Sprint FastConnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access provide custom links to quality broadband content, including the latest in local news and information through an agreement with Real Cities' Tallahassee.com regional hub. Sprint's FastConnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access provide users with high-bandwidth Internet access and an "instant-on" connection that requires no dialing and allows customers to use the Internet and talk on the telephone or send a fax at the same time - all over a single, existing telephone line.

Sprint and EarthLink Bring High Speed DSL Service to Tallahassee

"Sprint's introduction of Sprint FastConnect and our associated agreements with leading broadband multimedia content providers truly set us apart from other companies vying to become players in the fast connection marketplace," said Greg Crosby, assistant vice president for high-speed data products for Sprint's Local Telecommunications Division. "Our deployment of Sprint FastConnnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access will give Sprint residential customers in the Tallahassee area their first taste of an entirely new way to enjoy the Internet. We're pleased to be working with Tallahassee.com for the most in-depth local news and information in the area. Additionally, the new service will also provide businesses access to powerful Web-based productivity tools."

Sprint FastConnect is generally available to Sprint local service customers in Tallahassee. To find out if their phone line qualifies for the service, customers should visit the Web site at www.sprint.com/dsl or call 877-6-GO-DATA.

Sprint FastConnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access give consumers a new way to enjoy the Internet Consumers familiar with the "world wide wait" often associated with dial-up Internet connections and analog modems will enjoy the instant-on connections and fast - up to 1.5 million bits per second - download capabilities of Sprint FastConnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access.

Using their EarthLink Personal Start PageSM, customers can access Tallahassee.com news, sports, weather, entertainment and local business information customized for Tallahassee. To further enhance the online experience for consumers, Sprint and EarthLink are working with leading broadband content providers, including ABCNEWS.com, ESPN.com, FOXNEWS.com, FOXSPORTS.com, HEAT.NET, Media Station's SelectPlaysm, MSNBC.com and Yahoo! Broadcast Services. These providers deliver rich multimedia content, services and applications that further enhance the online experience for customers and add value to their investment in Sprint FastConnect.

"Sprint is committed to bringing top-quality multimedia and services to customers," said Crosby. "We have partnered with the best broadband content providers on the Web to ensure that FastConnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access customers have access to the highest quality entertainment and educational content available." "We're certainly committed to enriching our Tallahassee Web visitors' online experiences on an ongoing basis, said Dan Finnigan, president and CEO of KnightRidder.com. This arrangement with Sprint FastConnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access will help our users gather information quickly. We're confident that Sprint has chosen the best regional online resource with which to launch their DSL service."

Sprint FastConnect allows businesses to harness the power of the Internet

Sprint FastConnect and EarthLink Sprint Internet access give businesses the access they want and the speed they need to increase profitability. Businesses become more efficient with high-speed connections and the ability to use voice and data services simultaneously. Sprint FastConnect will also offers an upgrade that allows business users to share high-speed Internet access among multiple PCs over a local area network (LAN). Sprint will soon also offer businesses additional enhanced high-speed data services, such as Web hosting and e-commerce services. In addition, Sprint offers the HotOffice Web-Based Intranet Service in conjunction with Sprint FastConnect that together will offer small businesses "anytime anywhere officing" capability. HotOffice provides an all-in-one integrated suite of Web-based applications that enables small businesses to be more productive, including e-mail, group calendar, group contact manager, document management, bulletin boards, online conference rooms and more.

Sprint's business consultants can assist customers in choosing which services will best meet their needs and can help businesses establish a presence and market their products on the Web. "Sprint FastConnect will change the way businesses communicate," said Crosby. "Faster connections, instant-on access, and multiple-user capabilities will make businesses more productive and give them a competitive edge in the marketplace."

Affordable pricing, installation options

Sprint FastConnect service prices start at $49.99 a month for residential customers, and includes EarthLink Sprint Internet access. Customers also receive one month free access to Media Station's SelectPlaySM service, which offers a wide variety of interactive educational and entertainment software, including games and knowledge-based CD-programming designed for families. With a one-year service agreement, customers only pay for installation, while receiving $200 in equipment which consists of a Network Interface Card (NIC) and a DSL modem - free. Special promotional offers with similar discounts are also available to businesses, depending on service options and term agreements. Specially trained Sprint technicians will install the necessary hardware and software at the customer premises and set up and test the service. Service includes technical support to assist customers with any questions they may have about using the service. For business customers, a full range of maintenance, support and finance options are available.

Sprint FastConnect also features a unique distributed server platform that caches (stores in memory) frequently visited Web sites on a local server. This allows customers to avoid bottlenecks on the Internet, allowing them to be more productive and efficient. Favorite Internet Web sites will be cached locally to speed up the performance of Sprint's service.

About Sprint

Sprint is a global communications company - at the forefront in integrating long distance, local and wireless communications services - and one of the world's largest carriers of Internet traffic. Sprint built and operates the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and is a leader in advanced data communications services. Sprint has $17 billion in annual revenues and serves more than 20 million business and residential customers.

About EarthLink

EarthLink is one of the world's leading Internet service providers, bringing the magic of the Internet to more than 3.1 million individuals and businesses every day. Headquartered in Atlanta, EarthLink provides a full range of innovative access, hosting and e-commerce solutions to thousands of communities internationally from more than 5,000 points of presence. EarthLink is committed to doing an exceptional job of pleasing its customers, shareholders and the community by following the company's Core Values and Beliefs. Information about EarthLink and EarthLink Sprint services is available by calling 800-395-8425 and through EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net.

About KnightRidder.com and Tallahassee.com

Tallahassee.com is a comprehensive regional hub on the World Wide Web providing in-depth local information and online services for the Tallahassee area. Tallahassee.com is a destination resource in KnightRidder.com's regional Real Cities network that includes the online service of the Tallahassee Democrat. KnightRidder.com, a leader in interactive information, operates and manages the emerging national network, RealCities.com, in 31 U.S. cities. Real Cities specializes in local information and services including news, classified ads, entertainment, shopping, search, community publishing, Internet access and archives. KnightRidder.com is located in San Jose, California, the heart of Silicon Valley.

Contacts: Lloyd Karnes, Sprint (Kansas City), 913-323-4874 E-mail: lloyd.karnes@mail.sprint.com

Jason Duff, Sprint (Orlando), 407-889-6807 E-mail: jason.duff@mail.sprint.com

Cynthia Mallen Funnell, KnightRidder.com, 408-938-6076 E-mail: cfunnell@realcities.com